Improvement in fair-leaders for ships  rigging



. J. BETTS. Fair-Leaders for Ships Rigging.

No. 198,447. Patented Dec. 25, 1877.

UNITED STATES I PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN BETTS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN FAlR-LEAD ERS FOR SHIPS RIGGING.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 198,447, dated December25, 1877; application filed October 22, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN BETTS, of the city of Brooklyn, in the countyof Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Fair-Leaders for Leading Running-Gear systematically tothe Rails; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being-hadto the accompanying drawings, and to theletters of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to that class of improvements employed tofacilitate the handling of ropes constituting the running-1i ggin g of aship or other sailing vessel.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improvedmetallic fairleader, composed of sections screwed together ready foruse. A is the eye or loop which receives and secures the fair-leader tothe shroud at any desirable point. B is the split shank or body, forminga part of the eye A and split eye 0, held together by means of theadjustable eyes G' and O, which are provided with threaded shanks, asshown at Figs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 2 represents the eye 0 taken out of the shank B, said eye beingprovided with a hollow cylindrical shank or stem, (1, having a femalescrew-thread out upon the internal surface thereof, as shown at r also,having a projecting lug, n, on the outside of the stem, to prevent theeye 0 from turning in the body B when in the position shown at Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 represents the eye G removed from the shank or body B, in orderto show the male screw-stem d, forming a part thereof, which screws intothe tubular stem d, Fig. 2, to firmly secure the clamping-eye A aroundthe shroud in the position shown at Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the united parts of my fair-leader,consisting of the eye A, shank or body B, open eye C; also, showing theholes through the shank B, to receive the stems d and 01, Figs. 2 and 3,when the parts are united together, as shown at Fig. 1.

The shank B and eye 0 may be opened or drawn apart, as shown at Fig. 4,to any required width, to allow the largest shroud or rope to passthrough the same into the eye A, preparatory to being screwed togetherfor use.

I would here state that I do not confine myself to any particular formof opening or openings in the shank or body B, to allow the shroud topass through the same into the clamping-eye A. Neither do I confinemyself to any particular material to make the several parts of myinvention, or to the number of eyes employed in the same,but use anysuitable material and number of eyes, arranged and operated to suit theexigencies of the time and place.

The novelty of my invention consists in the construction of afair-leader composed of parts A, B, O, O, C, d, d, n, and r, constructedas above set forth, to secure the buntlines, leechlines, clew-lines,&c., in their proper places.

What I claim as novel and useful, and wish to protect by Letters Patentof the United States, is

As an improved article of manufacture, the herein-described fair-leader,consisting of the split shank or body B, having a central opening, andforming the eyes A and C, said shank being also provided with anadjustable eye, 0, the shank d of which screws into the hollow sleeve 01of the opposite eye 0 through the central opening of the split shank,substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own invention I affix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

" JOHN BETTS.

Witnesses:

JOHN T. WATERS, CHAS. H. Born.

